Struggle was published first as a mimeographed newsletter in 1974 when the Workers Liberation League was formed. It was edited by Rupert Lewis and he continued as editor when Struggle became the organ of the Workers Party of Jamaica in 1978. In the 1980s editors included Elean Thomas, Elaine Wallace and Ben Brodie. The Workers Liberation League grew out of the political initiative of academics - Trevor Munroe, Rupert Lewis as well as Don Robotham, Derek Gordon who studied in the University of Chicago in the early 1970s and were connected to activists in the Black Panther Movement and African-American radicals in the Communist Party of the United States. The latter group formed the Paul Bogle League which brought together academics, working class and community activists who read and discussed Karl Marx’s Capital and Lenin’s political writings and sought to build on Jamaica’s radical traditions in the trade union movement and in the People’s National Party from the 1930s to the 1960s. The Paul Bogle League was also involved with the formation of the University and Allied Workers Union in the early 1970s and worked with the Independent Trade Union Action Council. Politically the Workers Liberation League gave critical support to Michael Manley’s democratic socialist program in the 1970s.

Issuing Body:

Vols. for -1978 issued by Workers' Liberation League; 1979- by Workers' Party of Jamaica.

LINE
Over the last few weeks Perkins, Hearne, Carl
Stone and Seaga's man Harding have all been
calling for the PNP and the JLP to come
together to form a coalition Government
What a thing! People who hate the guts of the
Prime Minister calling for unity with the PNP
Government! People who curse Manley and
socialism every day wanting to join up with the
Government all of a sudden!
What is the reason for this sudden "change of
heart?" The reason is that the reactionaries see
the so-called coalition Govcrnment as Lie best
way to put Mlanle and the progressive
movement under manner' The coalition that
they art talking about is not a coalition with
Manle It is a coalition oi Scagi, Shearer
,-,'o fee he t Manily issti t ig tc do too mu-i:
tor the simal man. What they and the
imperialists would really like to do is to get rid ol
Manley and to put in Seaga. But it is inot so easy

The problem is that the imperialists see more
and more clearly that Seaga can't win any
general election in Jamaica. The working people
are dissatisfied but they don't like Seaga. They
don't want him as Prime Minister Shearer is
more popular but to the imperialists he is not
ruthless enough in defending the big man It
needs somebody harder and tougher. So the
imperialists have a problem They want Seaga
hut tie people don't want him. They don't want
Manley but the people still want himn
From the point of view of imperialism the
coalition Government is the best way out They
want a Government with Glasspoie at the head
and with Shearer, Seaga. Cooke,Belinfanti and
others like them in the biggest positions. The
reactionaries feel that workers who are fed up
with the present Government, with the fighting
between the two sides and genuinely want to see
progress will give support to this kind of unity
But what would a Government with Manley at
the bottom and with Glasspole, Shearer and
Seaga on top mean? Instead of one set of
henchmen and contractors dipping into the
people's money in the communities and in the
ministries it would be two sets. Instead of one set
of big shots in the Government departments and
companies pushing around the workers it would
now be two sets. Instead of going closer to the
socialist countries where we get fair and equal
treatment, it would be back to America on our
knees. Instead of one devaluation it would be
two, three, four. Instead of one wage freeze it
would be two, three, four.
This coalition Government is really a trick by
the big people to cut Manley down to size and
turn back progress. Workers must make it clear
that we don't want coalition. The kind of unity we
want is not unity of the JLP-PNP big people
against the workers but a unity of all the working
people against the big man.

Capitalists fight

Against the bac-
kground of thousan-
ds of workers laid
off, especially si-
nce 1975, to the
present, the closu-
re of over 70 comp-
anies between late
1976 and riddle
1977 alone the
big capitalists in
the Jamaica Employ-
ers Federation are
sayin, that tihe law
is "a Draconia'n,

layoff law

to be brought to the thousands of
hasty and untimely Parliament next we- workers and their
measure ". ek. families who are

The coming of
the law to force
employers to give
90 days notice bef-
ore closing their
company was announc-
ed by Government fr-
om 1977.
Following strug-
gles and demands
by many sections of
workers and profes-
sionals. the law is

Jamaican heroine of 1938, Aggie Bernard was
one of the female liberation fighters cited on
International Women's Day rally [Mar. 12].

But the big cap-
italists are claim-
ing that to give
the workers 90 days
notice of redundan-
cy will "increase
their financial bur-
den", open their
business to "vanda-
lism" and "sabota-
ge" and stop overs-
eas investors comi-
ng to Jamaica.

left to starve?
Who protects them?
1ho protects the
country and the ec-
onomy from the van-
dalism and sabota-
ge of the big man
which we have felt
bitterly?
The workers have
said to government:
"pass this law with
Gun Court speed".

Soviet comrades and Prime Mil
participated.

Whittingham connection

STRUGGLE understan-
ds that investigat-
ions are being con-
ducted into the in-
tended use of the
$h million seized
fror six people at
the airport last
week.
Arrested were
LESTER PRENDERGAST;
Ocho Rios business-
man Ernie Smatt;
Ian Bruce of a Gra-
ham Heights addre-
ss; Betty Blake Wi-
lliams, operator
of Sandhurst Guest
House; and an Amer-

ican tourist named
David Weiner of Mi-
ami, Florida.
The most serio-
us case is that of

Prendergast, a well-
known night-club
operator and race
horse man reported-
ly linked to the
JLP, who is being
charged with atterm-
pting to export
$183,00.
Prendergast, who
now lives in Miami,
slipped into the is-
land last Saturday
for a quick weekend
visit, in keeping
with what has now
become the style
amongst Jamaican
high-ups-in-exile.

While on nas way
back to his "second
home" on Fonday,
Prendergast was na-
bbed at the Airpo-
rt by FIU Officers.
And JLP candida-
te Peter Whittingh-
am, held by the Am-
erican authorities
on charges of poss-
ession of $21 mill-
ion worth of ganja
had his case brou-
ght up before a Fl-
orida court over
the same weekend
that Prendergast
visited here.
April 13 is the
new date set for
Whittingham's trial

SeePog 3

i

vised the strategy
of not putting for-
ward the JLP direc-
tly, but instead
running as "United
People's Front" in
order to uphold
the formal Seaga
position of boycot-
ting elections to
which many JLP peo-

....the idea is to co-

from the press con- ordinatethiselection
ference launching
the campaign of any campaign with a
member of the Shea- squeeze from the
rer faction has ra-
ised doubts about IMF,whom itis
whether the campai- understood have
gn really has broad
JLP support. already given

Whittingham the nod....'
At the last mee-
ting of the JLP St-
anding Committee
Seaga came under he-
avy fire for his
failure to public-
ly disassociate hi-
mself and the party
from Whittingham,
(now on trial in
the US on a $2% mi-
llion ganja case),
for his"Dr. Doom"
image and for the
fact that a large
number of JLP can-
didates/caretakers
have abandoned the-
ir supporters and
taken up residence
in their new "cons-
tituency" in Dade
County, Florida.
Deterioration
It was pointed
out that there are
26 JLP constituenc-
ies vacant and that
most of the candi-
dates who have run
away were "high-ups"
imposed on the JLP
in 1976 by Seaga.
Since last week
Seaga's position ple, especially in

has deteriorated
even further due to
the disgraceful tr-
ouncing which the
PN\ gave the JLP
in the recent Fort-
land Parish Council
Elections. Despite
the continued grave
hardships of Portl-
and people not the
slightest tendency
for them to shift
to the JLP was det-
ected.

Hostility
This result is
regarded as partic-
ularly "bad news"
for Seaga and Pear-
nel Charles who de-

the Shearer camp
are hostile.
Tne tendency is
growing in this se-
ction of the JLF to
regard seaga's new
scheme for an early
election in Novemb-
er as directed more
at cutting down She-
arer rather than
Manley. With Shear-
er's position and
prestige in the JLP
growing, this tend-
ency sees Seaga's
election scheme as
a move to build up
his leadership in
the party against
the Shearer challe-
nge.

By Cecil Nelson

JLP party leader
Edward Seaga has
announced the laun-
ching of a big cam-
paign around elect-
oral reform and
"human rights" with
the hope of forcing
the government into
calling an early
November e action.
But the absence

did not notice that
the "coalition gove-
rnment" idea was a
dagger pointed at
Seaga and not Manl-
ey. The whole poi-
nt of it is of cour-
se for Shearer and
Manley to come tog-
ether against "ext-
remes of the right
and extremes of
the left", as Hard-
ing, falling into
the Shearer trap,
puts it.
Nevertheless, al-
though plagued by
these headaches,
Seaga is not giving
in. A source close
to Winston Spauldi-
ng has told STRUGG-

L

Mo Prsr

AlonghatoDE

by Mark Figueroa

As a result,la-
st week the Shear-
er faction launched
a counter action
designed to put a
spoke in Seaga's
wheel. Using close
Shearer associate
Carl Stone, they
put out a call for
"coalition governm-
ent" in the Glean-
er. Parrot
As tney antic-
ipated, this call
was foolishly paro-
tted the next day
by John Hearne and
Ossie Harding who
are known as Seaga-
men in JLP circles.
Hearne, rushing in
blindly as usual,
failed to read bet-
ween the lines of
Stone's article and

In addition he has moved in line with
the new Carter policy of calling for a
unity of moderates to save capitalism in
Jamaica. This is the meaning of the new
talk about coalition.
Seaga shows his open support for impe-
rialism. His main attack on the govern-
ment is that it is opposed to "the syst-
em". He calls for a "reversal of certain
major policies". Thus not only does he
want to put the squeeze on the workers.
He is in effect calling on the governme-
nt to bow down to US imperialism and gi-
I ve up the struggle for reform in the IMF
and World Economic relations.
Seaga's policy is to curry favour wi-
th imperialism and try to get special
S treatment. But even the most capitali-
st governments in the Third World are
facing the same crisis. Brazil for ins-
tance had to pay 44% of its foreign exc-
S- hange earnings last year just to servi-
ce its debts, twice as much as the compa
table figure for Jamaica.
Changes
S What we need to work for is the firm
unity of the Third World countries agai-
- -- nst the developed capitalist countries.
S In this regard the government has been
correct in laying great stress on the
struggle for a New International Econom-
given the nod for ic Order. But this will be to no avail
the negotiations if certain fundamental changes are not
with the government made at the local level.
to be drawn out in- Firstly this requires a change in the
to November, so as relationship between the leadership and
to allow Seaga to the people in the economy. The PNP must
claim that only he initiate a programme to discipline and
has the "confidence" weed out all corrupt and self-seeking
of the IMF and can members, responsible officials whether -
get them to sign civil servants or politicians who are
an agreement to br- unwilling or unable to vigorously pursue
ing in foreign exc- a policy which involves and serves the
hange. people.
Meanwhile the Local community councils must be giv-
plan has been anno- en.responsibility to ensure the account-
unced and details ability of local officials and elected
are now being work- politicians. In addition they must be
ed out with Gleaner given a direct role in ensuring that
and Star Editor-in- government projects are implemented fair
Chief Hector Wynter ly productively and with minimum wastage}
as to how best to This is the only basis oq ihch e t
spread the propaga- economy can begin to develop in the inter
ndal rest of the peopleS

Page 2

Seaga's Plan

LE that Seaga and
Spaulding have wor-
ked out an election
strategy, the cent-
ral element of whi-
ch is to try and
draw the youth vote
into the reactiona-
ry camp. How? By
a package of so-
called "human righ-
ts" measures which,
taking off from Cr-
een Bay, will atte-
mpt to play upon
the youth's hatred
of police brutali-
ty.
IMF
Apparently the
idea is to coordin-
ate this election
campaign with a sq-
ueeze from the IMF,
whom, it is unders-
tood have already

THE minority forces in our country have
made every effort to build up a false
image of Seaga as a financial genius.
But his most recent statements show th-
at although it is easy for him to criti-
cise government's policy he cannot put
forward an acceptable alternative.
Like right wing politicians the wor-
ld over he is relying on dissatisfacti-
on with government's mistakes to sweep
him back to power. He has to hide his
own policies. Because these would place
greater pressure on the people by furth-
er limiting wages and allowing the cost
of living to rise. This is the policy
which the right wing governments have
pursued the world over, particularly in
Chile and Brazil.
Seaga's statement also shows up his
links with the policy of US imperialism.
Instead of putting forward concrete eco-
nomic policies he is raising to the fore
Carter's hypocritical call for "human
rights".

The meaning

Page 3

GLEANER MANAGEMENT

Since the Gleaner reactionaries

general, condemnation of Clarke and
Wynter has been expressed by many
organisations.
WE the youths and newspaper which wi-
citizens attending 11 not think twice
the 2nd Annual Con- in trampling on ba-
ference of the Sei- sic human rights,
vright United You- freedom of speech,
th Club on March 5 and genuine freed-
1978, note with al- om of the press,
arm and serious co- and has not chang-
ncern the continu- ed its policies si-
ed layoffs of work- nce the days when "
ers and editorial it attacked Paul
staff at the DAILY Bogle and Marcus t
GLEANER. Garvey.
We view with
utter disgust the Support PAJ Z-
present attempts We stand in full
to throw aside the support of the Pre-
Editor of the STAR ss Association of i
newspaper, Mrs. Ba- Jamaica in its for- This is what Private Sector Organisation luncheon recently where Minister of State Arnold
rbara Gloudon, pop- thright stand for President, Carlton Alexander thinks of Govern- Bertram attacked the reactionary media
ularly known as human rights, and ment's media policy. Occasion was the Caribbean management.
"Stella", after 27 the Minister of Publishers and Broadcasters Association
years of excellent State for Informa-
and impartial our- tion and Culture JAE firm despite union
nalism; the dismis- in his denunciati-
sal of Mr. Ben Bro- on of the GLEANER'S
die (President) and policy of union busting attem pt
Mr. Fitzroy Nation busting and victim-
(former Vice Presi- ization. ON THE insistence union has lost half The UJAE has be- in this country.
dent) of the Union We call upon the of the UJAE, the its membership thr- en firm in its def- All progressive Ja-
of Journalists and government to take Gleaner company is ough layoffs. ence of workers so maicans must join
Allied Employees a firm stand on th- again bore the The Gleaner has this time the Glea- in the struggle to
the union represen- is latest, most vi- Minister of Labour. never been happy ner management we- crush this victimi-
ting the editorial cious attack by the The issue is again with the democrat- nt for the head, zation attempt by
staff. GLEANER on human centred around lay- ic and independent President Ben Brod- the Gleaner.

Exposed rights and freedom offs, but this time UJAE. They fought ie and former Vice The UJAE have
of the press, and the company has go- against the union President and acti- now been joined by
The DAILY GLEANER further call upon ne a bit further, from the start in ve member Fitzroy the BITU and UTASP
stands exposed as the government to Not only have 1973 and as a result Nation are among in an attempt to
a company and a ne- wait no longer in they added another the union has had ithe 50 laid off at get back the jobs
wspaper devoted to passing the anti- 50 to the 71 laid to go through stri- Ithe Gleaner recent- of the 50 workers.
serve a small mino- layoff law to stay off last July, but ke, sick-outs, 2 ly. The parties me-
rity against the the hands of the this time Oliver Boards of Enquiry Threat et with the Minist-
interest and aspir- GLEANER company and Clarke and Hector and the Industrial er of Labour again
ation of the vast other minority int- Wynter have used Disputes Tribunal This clear attem on March 21 at whi-
majority of the Ja- erests in their th- the layoffs as a in its efforts to pt at union-busting ch time a formula
maican people. It irst for vengeance lever for heighten-. achieve better con- I poses a threat not for the return of
stands exposed as Ion the working peo- ing the efforts to ditions and wages only to the UJAE, the 50 will be dis-
a company and a [pleO kill the UJAE. The for its members. but to all workers cussed*

and he is on -
$100,000 bail.
Whittingham has
been having serious
financial difficul-
ties raising the
money to pay the
fantastic legal fe-
es which his Ameri-
can lawyers have
been demanding in
advance. Former
JLP big wigs now
living in Miami ha-
ve not been of mu-
ch help to him. Fe-
arful of losing th-
eir Green Cards,
they have cold sho-
uldered their form-
er colleague.
Prominent local
JLP lawyers, who
may be willing to
give legal assista-

nee to Whittingham
in preparation for
his case, are barr-
ed by US Federal
and Florida State
Law from actually
personally appeari-
ng before the Amer-
ican Court on his
behalf.
.s a result,
Whittingham has had
to put his case in
the hands of two
high-powered Miami
lawyers, well known
in US legal circles
for their successf-
ul defence of Maf-
ia and other under-
world figures.
And such legal
fire-power does not
come cheap in Unc-
le Sam's land, espe-

cially from lawyers
who are well aware
of the huge profi-

Shearer remains silent

ts being made in WORKERS have been Why does Shearer statement signed
the ganja export commenting on the speak out for more by Lascelles Beckf-
business and of Wh- strange silence fr- pay for senior bank ord. The fact th-
ittingham's rumour- om BITU head, Hugh staff, but turns at it was not sign-
ed connections to Shearer over the a blind eye towar- ed by Shearer is
the CIA. Gleaner layoff and ds the Gleaner mas- taken as a hint to
Efforts by STRU- victimization iss- sacre? Is it beca- management not to
GGLE to get confir- ue. The BITU is use the Gleaner ma- worry. In any case
mation from JLP le- the union represen- nagement is run by the statement from
ader Edward Seaga ting the bulk of JLP big man? Beckford merely as-
concerning Whittin- Gleaner workers and The only word ked for a meeting
gham's "cash-flow so far Shearer has from the BITU on to stop future lay-
problem" were uns .- failed to lift a the Gleaner victim- offs after the
ccessful up to Pre- finger against the ization has come horse has gone th-
ss time Gleaner management. From a very late rough the gate. Of
course, the Gleaner
Cargill back capitalists gave
STRUGGLE understan- used to write the aner? Or was he Beckford's stateme-
ds that former Gle- column "Candidly here to give Hect- nt big time public-
aner columnist Mor- Yours" under the or Wynter and Oli- ity, you would have
ris Cargill was ba- name Thomas Wright. ver Clarke advise thought that they
ck in Jamaica. He Is he back to on how to carry were the most mli-
visited the Glean add to the battery out their reaction- tant force in the
er. of reactionary col- ary plan better? struggle. Pharoah.
Morris Cargill umnists at the Gle- where art thou?

Whittingham From Page

Pane 4

Comrade General
Secretary and oth-
er Central Committ-
ee members of the
League visited and
held discussions
with WLL comrades
in Hanover and in
St. Catherine over
last weekend. Visi-
ts to other branch-
es are continuing.
#8#
A handful of eleme-
nts from RML, "the
left hand of imper-
ialism" tried to
get the scientific
socialism course to
change its schedule
and debate their pr-
opaganda against
the WLL. Students
with one exception
voted unanimously
against this disru-
ption.

Youth Club leaders
in North St. Cathe-
rine have decided
to start a petition
Calling on Alcan
Ltd. to ensure th-
at bauxite mining
!oerations dc not
;damage famiers' cr-
cs, that more you-
t. be aiven skill
-ra-ning and emplo-

"U7- iSJ ~~ut to
-:ly for bargaini-
ng ird representat-
ional rights at Ja-
raica Wells Ltd.,
a company that dri-
lls wells for the
National Water Aut-
hority.

In commemoration
of the 40th Annive-
rsary of 1938 the
WLL will be reprin-
ting the very popu-
lar book Struggl-
es of the Jamaican
people by Trevor
Munroe and Don Rob-
otham. A new publ-
ication on the -
"Role of Communis-
ts in 1938" is also
expected.
4##
Comrade James Dasti-
]er, Secretary for
Conrunications of
the Guyana Agricul-
ltural and General
workers Union -
(GAaU) was special
guest at the UAWU
Managing Delegates
Council Meeting of
Sunday, March 5;
full report in ne-
xt STRUGGLE.

St. Josephs, CAST

Student

action

MILITANT action by
students at St. Jo-
seph's Teacher Tra-
ining College has
restored the $20
cut from their reg-
ular $80 monthly
allowance provided
by government. The
cut camq complete-
It without any war-
ning or consultati-
on with students.
They simply receiv-
ed their allowance
in the normal fas-
hion, but 25% short.
In protest again-
st this action the
overwhelming major-
ity of students sp-
ontaneously march-
ed from the College
at Cross Roads down
to the Ministry of
Education last we-
ek Tuesday, demand-
ing a meeting to
discuss the cuts.
A meeting was arra-
nged at the Minist-
ry for the follow-
ing day. At this
meeting it was agr-
eed to restore the
full allowance irmr-
-eiately.
Broader issues
such as the provis-
ion of a certified
nurse, the improve-
ment of the food
ard the democrari-
saticn of the coll-
ege away from the
rit-id Roman Cathol-

a
T
u
a
t
a
f
e
a

ic system of dicta- r
torial control were w
also agreed upon in
principle at the t
Ministry meeting. i
These were to be a
implemented at Col-
lege level before
resumption of clas-
ses.
However, as STR-
UGGLE goes to press
the College adminis-
tration has refused
to proceed with
these measures on
the pretext that
JUTS leaders should
be barred from mee-
tings at the Colle- P
ge level.
JUTS was invited
by the St. Josephs
students to assist
them in the strugg-
le and had partici-
pated actively in
the Ministry of Ed-
ucation meetings.
In protest at th-
is unwarranted att-
empt by tne College
to dictate who sho-
uld represent them,
students again mou-
nted a big demonst-
ration at the Coll-
ge gate last Friday.
The action of
the students at St.
Josephs care only
a week after a sir-
ilar militant demo-
nstration by C.AST
students which sec-
ured a 50% cut in

Stiff struggles

ahead for students

STUDENTS are fac-
ing a tough year
in 1979. The pres-
ent year was no jo-
ke either as book,
food, rental and
other student cos-
ts soared. But all
indications are th-
at compared to next
year, 1978 will lo-
ok like a holiday
year.
Already the go-
vernment has annou-
nced a $13 million
cut in the Educati-
on budget, a move
whicn is oound to
affect all studen-
ts sharply. Furth-
ermore, the Student
Loan Bureau and boa-
rding grant schemes,
on which most Coll-
ege students depe-
nd, are getting
very shaky.
According to an

article in "Student
News", official
organ of the Jamai-
ca Union of Tertia-
ry Students (JUTS),
the Inter-American
Development Bank
(a US controlled
bank) which financ-
es 68% of the stud-
ents revolving lo-
an funds have "hin-
ted" that they will
not be providing
aby loans for the
1979 academic year.
The situation is
made particularly
bad due to the fact
that of students
who have previous-
ly gotten loans
only a few have re-
paid them. If the
68% of these funds
are cut for '79,
it will bring the
academic career of
thousands of stude-

new "exam fee".
he fee was imposed
unilaterally by the
administration. Al-
hough the Princip-
.1 of CAST, Dr. Al-
red Sangster hail-
d the new fee as
,n example of "self-
eliance" students
'ere not impressed.
In the light of
he already dwindl-
ng student loans
nd boarding gran-

ts and the high co-
st of rent and boo-
ks, Sangster's rem-
ark was dismissed
by students as a
piece of "Queen's
Advice", like what
Queen Victoria to-
ld the poor people
of St. Ann in 1865.
This self-righteous
advice is typical
of much of what is
spouted in Jamaica
today by people li-

ke Dr. Sangster wh-
ose income and pos-
ition in the socie-
ty is well looked
after to say the
least.
The compromise
of paying of the
exam fee has been
accepted by studen-
ts for the time be'-
ing as exams were
near, but the issue
is by no means clo-

nts at L'WI, CAST,
and other institu-
tions to a halt.
What is more
the prospect of jo-
bs for students le-
aving College is mo-
re bleak than last
year. Significant
graduate unemploym-
ent is expected to
develop in 1979 if
major steps are
not taken from now
to ease this grave
crisis. The same
applies to the que-
stion of holiday
jobs which was a
disaster area from
'78. Book
prices are sure to
shoot up. Already
UWI Halls have ann-
ounced plans to ra-
ise food prices,
JOS has an applica-
tion for fare incr-
eases before the
Transport Board and
so on.
Can anything be
done? Actually the
JUTS has put forwa-
rd excellent propos-

ais to toe goveiiss~- or ettort to us

als to the govermer- of effort to De
nt pointing out to stopped. At the
them the need for same time while ti-
an emergency policy ghtening up on re-
to be worked out fr- payment of student
om NOW with full loans and giving
student participat- them out strictly
ion. As JUTS has ri- on need, the gover-
ghtly pointed out nment must seek
the worst thing th- .all alternative
at could happen is finance for the
for government to fund, perhaps from
allow school and the Scandinavian
college administra- or socialist count.
tAons to drop allow- ries.
ance cuts or impose JUTS plan for
fees on students holiday jobs and
SRi of the clear jobs in general is
,blue sky as was do- also sound. T4eit
ne at St. Josephs proposal is to crr
and CAST. Such po- eate a single Minis-
licy is bound to try placement pen-
bouhce back on the tre which would
government. give absolutly eq-
What is needed, ual treatment to
as JUTS points out, all students. f'e.
is for cuts to be traditional favou
made in Ministry itism shown to
overheads at the UWI and CAST ptudp-
top, in perks for nts must be edod.A
administrators, in
the growth of Boar- So students, r-
ds and committees epare youXare. On
and for all unnece- ly strqqg g *Will
ssary duplication it*

.a. -' Ma I'
Nutrition Product workers busy preparing school lunches

Nurition Products Ltd.

Delegate Council

Wins Benefits

THE workers of Nut- Since January,
rition Products Ltd. the 8 Delegates at

have been winning
more and more bene-
fits recently, fur-
ther improving the-
ir conditions of
work.
The benefits are
a result of the ef-
forts of the prese-
nt leadership and
delegates of the
UAWU to build Dele-
gate Councils among
the workers.

Seivright

Cor. Con

OVER 5C people we-
re present at the
Seivrig!-t ,i.th Cl-
ub Comr.mnlly Confe-
rence. :.e aiim of
the conference was
to make the youth
club accountable
to the citizens of
the community and
to get the politic-
al representative
to answer some of
the burr.ing questi-
ons on the minds of
the people.
Councillor Fitz-
coy Cooke was pres-
ant. He was asked
luestions about the
Upgrading of the
street lights, bad
coads, the need for

Move Worker

Participation

Forward
THE last issue of
STRUGGLE reported
that Education Off-
icers employed to
the Worker Partici-
patidn Unit in the
Ministry of Labour
were recently dism-
issed from their
jobs.

publ
and
of t
ceni
1t
lle<
his
the
cil
the

NFL have held 8 re-
gular weekly meet-
ings to discuss ma-
tters which are of
concern to the NPL
workers and the
UAWU.
In addition to
discussing grievan-
ces, the Delegate
Council has been
discussing how to
implement further
worker participati-

on at the work pla-
ce, how to make
sure that the Work-
ers Cooperative Ca-
nteen at the facto-
ry is organised pr-
operly to give the
workers good servi-
ce and regular re-
ports on the finan-
cial operation of
the canteen.
The Delegate Co-
uncil has also been
discussing ways to
prevent sabotage of

Brother Cooke
stated that progre-
ss was beinr made
erence in sme of these
areas.
He commended the
5 ITUUCG f Seivright youths

role they have be-
en playing in the
cormur.y v.
Brother Rupert
Walters, the Club's
Public Relations
Officer presented
a report on the Cl-
ub's activities in
S1977. Comrade Wal-
Rupert Walters ters pointed out
Lic telephones the need for the
the completion workers within the
the community community to invol-
tre. ve themselves much
The citizens ca- more in building
d on him to put strong community or-
weight behind ganisations made up
community coun- of both JLP and PNP
initiated by supporters.
youths. Comiade Lasima

The workers have'
carried their case
to Prime Minister
Manley and to the
public. In their
letter to the PM
they expressed con-
cern about the way
in which the Worker
Participation prog-
ramme is being con-
ducted.
The statement
said "As it stands
now, we are public-
ly accused of poor
performance, which

we know to be untr-
ue and in addition,
Worker Participati-
on has been so wat-
ered down as to ma-
ke it ineffective.
From the inception,
the Gleaner has be-
en using Worker Pa-
rticipation as a
political football
in their campaign
to undermine Work-
er Participation
and so maintain th-
eir class dominan-
ce".

the School feeding
programme.
The Council has
demanded that the
members of the Boa-
rd of Directors
appointed by the
workers must atte-
nd the Council mee-
tings before and
after Board meetin-
gs. The purpose
of this is for the
Board members to
be told what issu-
es the workers want
discussed at Board
meetings and to re-
port to the Delega-
tes what took place
at the meeting so
that the Delegates
and workers can kn-
ow everything that
goes on in the com-
pany.

Recently the De-
legate Council had
to ask the workers
to change 2 of the
Board members who
were appointed by
the workers because
they were not act-
ing in the best in-
terest of the worke.
rs or attending de-
legates meetings as
required. The work-
ers have accepted
the Delegates reco-
mnsendation and ha-
ve voted them out.

Since January
the Delegates Coun-
cil has taken up
50 different griev-
ances with the Com-
pany's management.
That is on the ave-
rage of 1 grievance
per day. Of these
50 grievances the
delegates have be-
en able to settle
43, that is 86% by
themselves, with-
out the interventi-
on of the Union
officers.
This is real pr-
ogress; just think
how at some work
place in a week,
even months, not
one grievance has
been taken up.
The workers app-
reciate the work of
their delegates and
when the UAWU offi-
cers, acting on the
decision of the
Delegate Council,
call for Election
of Delegates, not
one worker had any
objection to any
delegate. Before
the Delegate Counc-
il started to func-
tion there were
regular grumblings
about the Delegates
and even some Dele-
gates had to be

uf the WLL gave a
talk on the in Participa
which the big peop-
le try to make wor- ON Thursday March
kers abandon their 2, over 100 JBC wo:
struggle for rights kers gathered to
and justice. He spl strengthen their
ore azout tne role trade union delega-
of the IMF and the tes council, expre-
weaknesses in gove-i ss solidarity with
rnment. The Comra-i fellow media work-
de also criticised ers and reaffirm
those workers and their commitment tc
youths who get dem-r- worker participati-
oralised and drop on.
their hands. The The workers felt
speech was warmly that after months
applauded by the of pushing for wor-
people. ker participation
A resolution co- with no real resul-
ndemning Oliver Cl- ts, that they wou-
arke and Hector Wy- Id invest their tr-
nter of the Gleaner ade union delegates
and giving solidar- council with the
ity to the Gleaner power to lead the
workers, particula- struggle in this
rly Barbara Gloudon area.
Ben Brodie and Fit- An important de-
zroy Nation, was cision was also ag-
unanimously passed. reed on unanimously
The watering do-
wn of Worker Parti-
cipation benefits i
the capitalists. It 1
is the duty of the
conscious workers
to take up this is-
sue with their uni-
ons. It is the du-
ty of the governme-
nt to see that the-
se eiaht workers
are given back the-
ir jobs so that Wo-
rker Participation
programme can go
forwardO

Page 5
changed.
NPL is not the
only plant where
the Delegates Coun-
cil is functioning
in the UAWU. At pr-
esent the Delegates
on the University
Campus are meeting
weekly and like at
NPL they have a set
day in the week wh-
en they meet with
management to disc-
uss the workers'
grievances.
The Delegates at
Spence Furniture
Factory, Central
Food Store and tho-
se at Caenwood in
Portland are all
functioning in the-
ir Councils, winni-
ng benefits for
their workers.
The UAWU is con-
tinuing the difficu-
lt struggle to bui-
ld Delegates Counc-
ils in all plants
where they represe-
nt workers. Despite
the difficulties,
the workers all ag-
ree that because
of the efforts of
the Delegate Counc-
ils and the role
of the Union lead-
ers, more progress
is coming to the
workers' struggleO

tionatJBC

that an Economic
Committee would be
set up from the de-
legates to examine
the accounts the
corporation and to
suggest to manageme-
nt ways of saving.
Another unanimo-
us decision was ta-
ken to support the
Gleaner workers and
Barbara Gloudon in
their struggle aga-
inst layoffs and
the victimization
by the Gleaner mana-
gement.
Many workers ex-
pressed the view
that the meeting
was a definite step
forward in the str-
uggle to defend the
rights of JBC and
all media workers*

erar

o938

-----------

r-

D

Page 6

International Women's Day

Growing unity among progressive forces

ADVANCED socialist society has

solved the problem of women's

emancipation. 59% of the Soviet

population are women. Women make

up more than half of all Soviet workers

and form 50% of the total membership

of trade unions. 70% of all doctors

and teachers in the Soviet Union are
women. 60% of Soviet economists are

women. 40% of engineers. All working

women in the Soviet Union get

112 days maternity leave with full pay

and an additional yearwithout pay

if needed. The Communist Party in the

Soviet Union has spearheaded the drive

for Soviet women's emancipation.
--

Distance does not determine relations between peoples:
Soviet comrades arrive for International Women's Day celebration in
Jamaica. Comrades Natalya Kislyak and Galina Mixilovna Frolovna
being escorted from the Norman Manley Airport. Included in the group
are Women's Affairs Ministers, Carmen McGregor [4th left] and Soviet
Charge d'Affaires, Yuri Loginov.

il 1" I TMI~

MARCH 8-12 this
year witnessed an
important step in
the struggle again-
st imperialism for
national independe-
nce in Jamaica.
For the first
time, Jamaica join-
ed with the res,
of progressive man-
kind to commemorate
International Wome-
n's Day (IWD).
But the signifi-
cance of the period
went even beyond
this. For the eve-
nts marking ITr al-
so expressed the
growing unity of
progressive forces
both inside and
outside the count-
ry.
The promotion of
IWD, research and
exposure to our pe-
ople of leading wo-

PRIME Minister Man-
ley has made a firm
declaration on the
stand of the Jarai-
can government tow-
ards the treachero-
us deal cooked up
by Ian Smith, Muzo-
rewa, Sithole and
Chirau to undermi-
ne the just strugg-
les of the zimbab-
wean peoples.
While the react-
ionary Gleaner has
been pushing the
imperialist line
about "black major-
ity rule at last",
all genuine forc-
es for progress
have recognised
this "internal set-
tlement" for what

men fighters in
the people's strug-
gles against slave-
ry, colonialism,
and imperialism,
the putting on of
an exhibition and
the staging of a
rally to climax
the period came
through the efforts
of an alliance of
3 progressive orga-
nisations the Pe-
ople's National Pa-
rty Women's Moveme-
nt, the Committee
of Women for Progr-
ess and the Nation-
al Preparatory Com-
mittee for the llth
World Festival of
Youth and Students.
And here to sha-
re experiences wi-
th the Jamaican wo-
men and people were
distinguished repr-
esentatives of the
first country to

it is.
At the Rally to
mark International
Women's Day Prime
Minister Manley sa-
id:"We reject and
denounce this so-
called 'settleme-
nt'. We do not
believe it can be
just. Nor do we
believe it can en-
dure. There is no
settlement that
we will accept th-
at has not involv-
ed the full partic-
ipation of the Pat-
riotic Front".
"Without the ar-
med straggle of the
Patriotic Front,
there could not ha-
ve been any serious
negotiations, and

solve the problem
of women's emancip-
ation the Soviet
Union. Fraternal
overseas visitors
were headed by Com-
rade Professor Nat-
alya Kislyak, Sovi-
et Vice Minister
of Health and Comr-
ade Galina Mixilov-
na Frolovna, Depu-
ty Chairperson of
the Soviet Women's
Committee. The
Federation of Cuban
Women was represen-
ted as was the Guy-
ana Revolutionary
Women's Organisati-
on. A wide range
of organisations pa-
rticipated in the
Mass Rally at which
Prime Minister Man-
ley was main speak-
er. The WLL's mes-
sage to the Rally
was delivered by
Comrade MunroeO

until such time as
we are assured th-
at the agreement
has the full backi-
ng of the Patriot-
ic Front, we shall
continue to reject
all these things
parading as settle-
ments".
"In so far as
the Patriotic Fro-
nt finds it necess-
ary to continue the
armed struggle, th-
ey will have our
full support moral-
ly, materially and
otherwise".
The stand of Pri-
me Minister Manley
met with tremendous
approval from the
packed hall at the
RallyO

STRUGGLE

Editor's Note

FROM now on the STRUGGLE has a
WLL will be publis- big responsibility
hing 8 pages inste- in raising the pol-
ad of 4. The pri- itical consciousne-
ce remains at 10. ss of the working
This is due to the people and exposi-
good response to ng anti-communist
our last issue and propaganda. We ca-
the needs of the 11 on our distribu-
political situation. tors to double up
their efforts to

people tor naTic
"all, Mar. 12.

sell more copies
and get more 0l.
We call on comr-
ades in trade unio-
ns and community
areas to send in
local reports.
Deadline for ar-
ticles is Thursda
of the week before
publication.

R. Lewis

We stand with the

Patriotic Front Manley

Page 7

One of the many Sea-side health resorts free o
the Soviet union

Prices In

The Soviet U

HAVE prices and the other capitalist
cost of living gone countries.
"sky high" in the But what the
Sovier Union? The Daily Gleaner did
Daily Gleaner would not report is the
certainly like rea- fact that for 20 ye-
ders to believe th- ars the overall co-

is. st of living has
A big headline not gone up by even
in the Daily Glean- 1 per cent!
er of March 2 scre- While the prices
amed: RUSSIA'S PRI- of some goods, esp-
CES GO SKY HIGH: ecially luxuries or
The article rep- imported items are
orted that coffee, increased from time
gasolene and cocoa to time, others are
products had gone reduced and yet oth-
up sometimes more ers stay the same.
than double. Gasole- So the overall co-
ne for example had st of goods in the
increased from 550 shops has remained
per gallon to $1.10. the same since
The article was 1955.
trying to give the Even the Gleaner
impression that the had to admit that
cost of living as prices of many goo-
a whole was going ds were also reduc-
up sharply in the ed. Hidden away
Soviet Union so th- at the bottom of
at workers would the page, the Glea-
feel that things ner story reported
were no different that the prices of
from Jamaica or the TV sets, refridger-

nion

ators and polyester
clothing had gone
down at the same
time as the other
prices were raised.
Why doesn't the
Gleaner tell its
readers some of the
true facts about the
cost of living in
the Soviet Union?
Like the fact
that bread, milk,
bus fares, house
rent, mutton and
potatoes, to name
a few have been
the same for the
last ten years.
Bus fares and rent
have been the same
even longer. Bus
fares have not cha-
nged since 1935 and
rent has not chang-
ed since 19281
Like the fact th-
at wage increases
are not eaten away
by price increases.
In the last ten ye-
ars real wages have
gone up by fifty

/ BRIT

/ USA

SnV

200

150 -

Z100

S502 A
0

0 'l*o
8 1965

percent while in
capitalist countr-
ies they have fall-
en because of price
increases coming to
over 100% in the
last five years in
some capitalist co-
untries.
Like the fact
that workers' stan-
dard of living is
constantly improvi-
ng. Just ten years

*AIN

IET

75 UNION

ance of the real
achievements which
socialism can bring.
But workers are le-
arning that a socie-
ty where there is
no unemployment, no
constant increases
in the cost of liv-
ing and no exploite-
rs to live off hard
earned labour, can
be built*

SPeru And The IMF
In November 1977 the IMF ap-1 The president of Peru's sta-
proved $106 million standby lo-!te controlled bank was quoted
an facility and government int- as saying "It's unprecedented
reduced a strict new austerity that everything could go wrong
plan, which made International at once". He says that the
Banks a little more comfortab- !world economic crisis "broke
le about their debtors ability the structure of our entire
to pay. debt and payment capacity".
Now Peru needs another $300 In October the Peruvian cur-
million in 1978. The US magaz- rency was devalued from a rate
ine "Business Week" reported of 80.9 sols to $1 US to the
a representative of one of the-lpresent 135 sols to US $1. Peru
se banks as squealing because is being forced to carry on tr-
Peru is not doing what it prom- ade on a cash basis as it now
ised to do. They are particul- owes US banks (including Citi-
arly incensed that the Peruvian'bank, Chase Manhattan, Morgan
government has not cut spendi- Guaranty, Bank of America, Man-
ng on internal programmes far ufacturers Hanover) $200 milli-
enough. on worth of trade credits out
Currently there is a 10% re- of a total of $1 billion cred-
striction on wage increases m-its owed to international ban-
posed by the IMF on Peru,while ks. Each of these banks have
the rate of inflation is ragi- some $100 to $500 million tied
ng at 40%. up in investments in PeruO

I Coalminers burning the contract.

S. Coal Miners Strike]
FACED with the refusal of the 165,000 ns in the mines. Over three quarters of
coal miners to accept a new contract, all miners eventually get the dreaded
the US government has invoked the Taft- black lung disease, and without free he-
Hartley Act tc try to force the workers alth care would have to spend a fortune
back to work. on medicines, doctor's visits and hospi-
The Taft-Hartley Act is an anti labo- tal care, or die for want of medical
ur law which provides for the workers attention.
to return to work for 80 day period whi- The new contract rejected by the wor-
le negotiations continue. This move ta- kers would also have given coal operato-
kes the pressure off the coal operators rs the power to fire leaders of strikes
to make concessions. which they term "wildcat" and to punish
But miners have twice before ignored pickets in these strikes. Workers need
the Presidential order and there is no this basic weapon as a last resort agai-
sign that they will accept this one. nst the failure or coal operators to
For the last tree months miners have correct dangerous or unsafe conditions
been waging one of the most determined in the mTnes.
strike struggles in recent US history. The United Mineworkers Union, the wor-
The basic root of the struggle is the kers' union, is deeply divided and has
attempt by coal operators to take away railed behind the workers in this strug-
basic rights won b, the workers decades ale. Twice, the President, Arnold Mill-
ago after fierce struggles, er, negotiate& agieaments which were re-
The coal operators want to end the jected by tr. workers. Miller agreed to
agreement guaranteeing free medical care changes in the health and strike provis-
- to the miners and to outlaw "wildcat" ions proposed by the employers in retu-
strikes at the individual plants. rn for a moderate wage increase. Bat
Workers have fought for and won the the workers were more concerned with
right for free medical care because of protecting their hard won rights and ha-
the terrible health and safety conditio- ve correctly rejected the contracts

i

r

S 1970 19

ago only 20 out of
every 100 Soviet
homes had a washing
machine, and 25 of
every 100 a TV set.
Today 60 of every
100 homes have a
washing machine and
76 of every 100 a
TV set.
The Gleaner is
counting on keepi-
ng its working cla-
ss readers in ignor-

Page 8

Good sign!

mean mor,

work

Build mass organisations

and mass consciousness
THE Editorial in the last issue of STRU-
GGLE newspaper saw "good signs" in the
effort of many working people not just
to talk against ha:idship but to go out
and do something about the bad conditio-
ns.
The reactionaries too have seen the-
se "good signs"; the Gleaner is already
hitting out against land capture while
Seaga is trying his best to reorganise
the JLP to use the people's discontent
to get back into power.
These signs mean much more hard work
for progressive forces. For us it mea-
ns longer hours, more determination, mo-
re skill to encourage the working peo-
ple, to show how the system of imperia-
lism and capitalism is responsible for
the oppression, to pressure the governm-
ent to stand up firmer and above all to
build up the peoples organizations.
Action is good. It is better than
talk. But if the demonstration or the
marcn is against the wrorn "nem. cr
breaks cut one day and dies down the ne-
xt without building up the people's crg-
anisations against the capitalists, with-
out making them more conscious, then we
are not going to get anywhere.

More work

This is why the "good signs" mean mo-
re work for the progressive forces not
less work. More work to bring out more
people to the community council; more
work to bring out more delegates to the
worker delegates councils, to get out
more students to plan and help carry
out the task of building the student as-
sociations against colonial regulations
and cutbacks in grants, to get more you-
ths to come to meetings of the youth cl-
us.
It means more work to get more people
to sign the petitions against the polit-
icians and officials who are sitting do-
wn doing nothing or who are just looking
out for themselves. It means more work
to turn mass action into mass organisati-
on and into mass consciousness.
In the branches of the League it mea-

ns that work plans can no longer be gene-
ral. If the plan is to sell more STRUG-
GLE it must say how many more; if the
plan is to win more conscious workers to
the League, it must say how many more in
what time period.
Work-plans have to be realistic. A
branch of five cannot do the work of a
branch of fifteen. There is no point
in having a plan unless the plan says
who is going to do what and unless each
comrade is not biting off more than he
can chew. And the plans have to deal
with things which can draw the working
people together, keep them united and
help them to struggle.
In the groups of the PNP the progres-
sive comrades have to buckle down and
get nore serious. It is good to get the
Party to agree that a "class struggle"
is going on in Jamaica or that the sta-
te sector 'ust be do-inant in the econo-
iy. It is even a bigger step to make
certain that inside the party every mem-
ber has the right to talk out and to he-
!p decide policy and not just the bi,
shots who have always called the tune.

Build grssroots

But even this is not going to get the
movement anywhere unless progressive for-
ces in the PNP build up the grass roots
groups again so that the voice of the
small man against corruption, against
foot-dragging, against high and mighty
MPs can be stronger inside the party.

This is the only way to put puprssure
on the party to stand up firmer against
the capitalists. Leaving the group, go-
ing oneside and criticising the leader-
ship for "joking around" is not going
to help it only makes things worse.
This is so because when the working cla-
ss groups get weak or die out the capit-
alists have a bigger talk and that mea-
ns more corruption, more contract polit-
ics, more lip service to socialism, nore
making up with imperialism and more opp-
ression for poor people*

Firm action against

I all criminals

THE WLL has called
on Security Minist-
er Dudley Thompson
to take personal
charge of the drive
against currency
smugglers and to
take the same firm
measures against
crime in high plac-
es as he is taking
against violent cr-
iminals.
In congratulati-
ng the Financial
Intelligence Unit
on their recent su-
ccess in arresting
businessmen Lester
Prendergast, Ernest

Smatt and three
others, the WLL al-
so called on Justi-
ce Minister Carl
Rattray to oppose
bail for these peo-
ple and anybody ca-
ught smuggling mon-
ey out of the coun-
try.
The WLL further
demanded that the
FIU be expanded,
its officers given
more training and
new powers to arre-
st economic crimin-
als regardless of
their social posi-
tion*

Progress in Newland

step taken by the
ON Sunday March 5, citizens and will
Comrade General Se- serve as an exap-
cretary of the WLL le to other commun-
Trevor Munroe had ities who are havi-
a reasoning with ng the same proble-
the Newland Commun- ms.
ity Council. Despite Comrade Munroe
the present state also praised the
of frustration and Council for the pr-
downheartedness am- ogiess which has be-
ong the working pe- en made so far in
ople, over 50 citi- the field of educa-
zens turned out for tion noting that of
the reasoning. the 15 students who
Comrade Munroe took the JSC exams
said that he was 12 have passed two
pleased with the or more subjects.
progress which the Finally, Conra-
Council had made de Munroe urged the
in such a short ti- brohers and siste-
- me. He noted that rs who attended
the petition which the meeting not to
is now being circu- give up the struggi
lated in the area le since this is
calling upon the what the imperial'
PM to take discipl- sts want, but thq
inary action against way out is to s.trnu
the MP is an histo- ggle harder in nz*i
ric and militant tye

Working the land

Last month 120 mem-
bers of the "Produ-
ction Club" took
over part of an id-
le 730 acre proper-
ty owned by Reynol-
ds Bauxite Company
in North East Manc-

called on the Boa- nester.
rd not to grant any In a
increase in bus fa- Prime M
UAWU against fare increase crease o Obus gat i
res to JOS at this
THE University & Association and the ple who are already time. In the mean-
Allied Workers Uni- Rollington Town Ci- finding it hard to while the UAWU is
on has registered tizens Association. pay the present fa- setting an example
strong protest aga- In their submis- re. for other Trade Un-
inst the JOS appli- sion to the Public The UAWU made it I ions to adopt. They
instclear that any fare are getting their
cation for fare inc-, Passengers Transpo- clear that any fare are getting their
rease. rt Board, the UAWU increase is bound workers to sign
The other organ- has pointed out to affect not only petition indicating
has pointed out
isations who have that any fare incr- the workers but the their objection to
so far sent in obje-, ease to the JOS at workers' children the increase.
ctions are the Nat- this time will me- whose education mi- Other workers
ional Consumers Le- an further hardshi- ght have to be sto- and Unions should
ague, The Jamaica ps on working peo- pped. come forward on ti-
Tax and Ratepayers The Union has is issues
Prit Ior cbmya nSwnS-Cerporqio S Ap u Ut. (U thivernhll)5htSH1WayTI grfe, 4Ing.g.

letter to

ley the members sa-
id "Most of uy a
ve been landlessi
although some of us
have worked ak d,
on the farm woce
programmes. ta tI
that our labor ,sh-
ould be used t uirl
ild our country
but land has eot